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White iBook backlight failure?
#3321 09/08/09 08:26 PM
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the guy who is "helping" me with my Tibook said that the white iBook he just got on ebay, well the screen backlight failed in it. Is that possible, and is it fixible, because I have a feeling he was going to loan it to me untill my 'Book is back up.

Re: White iBook backlight failure?
PChaterosx #3324 09/08/09 08:42 PM
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Virtual1 is the expert on that, but yes it is, or at least may be, fixable but you probably would not want to do the job yourself. It involves disassembling the lid, if not the whole iBook, and replacing the light, so with labor it could get pricey.

I know you are anxious to get back up and running, but this may be one of those times when you need to look a gift horse in the mouth.


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Re: White iBook backlight failure?
joemikeb #3325 09/08/09 08:54 PM
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He just hinted that I might be able to borrow that iBook for a while... I didn't even know for sure. And I'm confused, It was a 600 mHz G3 and my Tibook was a 550 mHz G4!? The iBook had Tiger on it, too! mad

Re: White iBook backlight failure?
PChaterosx #3331 09/08/09 09:28 PM
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MHz/GHz (clock speed) isn't the only factor for processing power; A 550 MHz G4 is much faster than a 600 MHz G3.

Anyhow, I agree with JBM on this one.

EDIT: If the iBook has video-out, you can probably still hook it up to an external monitor or TV in a pinch, though...

Last edited by donikatz; 09/08/09 09:35 PM.

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Re: White iBook backlight failure?
donikatz #3332 09/08/09 09:33 PM
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Originally Posted By: donikatz
MHz/GHz (clock speed) isn't the only factor for processing power; A 550 MHz G4 is much faster than a 600 MHz G3.

Anyhow, I agree with JBM on this one.
I don't get it.

Re: White iBook backlight failure?
PChaterosx #3333 09/08/09 09:38 PM
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If I read you correctly, you sounded confused that an iBook would have a faster processor than your Tibook. I'm just point out that raw clock speed isn't the only indicator of processing power. A chip at a lower clock speed can actually be much faster than one at a higher clock speed, if the rest of its technology is superior. A G4 will always be much more powerful than a G3, regardless of what the raw MHz speed rating is. In other words, yes your Tibook was much more powerful.

EDIT: Good example is my 6-yr-old PC at home has a 3.2 GHz chip in it. But a modern chip with half the GHz blows it away because it is manufactured for much more efficiency, programmed to support more advanced instruction sets, and has overall superior technology.

Last edited by donikatz; 09/08/09 09:42 PM.

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Re: White iBook backlight failure?
donikatz #3334 09/08/09 09:41 PM
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OH! I get it now. Thanks, Doni. and don't you mean IS much more powerful? :sad:

Last edited by PChaterosx; 09/08/09 09:41 PM.
Re: White iBook backlight failure?
PChaterosx #3335 09/08/09 09:44 PM
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Sorry, yes, let's not put down the old girl yet: IS much more powerful!

In case you missed my earlier edit, check back about the video out comment. Could be a temp solution for you if repairing the iBook isn't worth it (I'd imagine it's not, but V1 can comment).


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Re: White iBook backlight failure?
donikatz #3336 09/08/09 09:47 PM
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It's not my iBook, but I'll see. and about my Tibook, I always say: "Don't count a Mac down and out unless It's crushed into a million pieces!" *edit* I hope no one gets any
ideas from that!

Last edited by PChaterosx; 09/08/09 09:59 PM.
Re: White iBook backlight failure?
PChaterosx #3338 09/08/09 10:08 PM
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fixable depends on the problem. there are four basic things to kill a backlight

blown microfuse on logic board (usually due to a failed/shorted cable)

bad sleep/backlight cable (very common)

bad inverter

bad backlight in lcd panel

the second is very common. usually the backlight starts cutting out at certain angles of the lid being opened and gets worse over time. hard to verify if it's failed completely. very cheap part but high labor. inverter failure is next most common, cheap part but somewhat high labor.



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